Walter L Brigham

Walter Lawson Brigham of Shelter Island died on January 31 at his home surrounded by family. He was 87.

Born May 16, 1921, in New York City, he was the son of Walter Cole and Jeannette (née Lawson) Brigham. He graduated from Shelter Island High School in 1938 and attended Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey, working on the Institute’s new model ship towing tank.

During World War II, he worked at Brigham’s Shipyard in Greenport, assisting in the design and drafting of vessels being built for the war effort. He then went to work as an engineer at Western Union’s field laboratory in Water Mill, where he remained for 19 years. A craftsman and boat builder, he was also the owner of Walter L. Brigham Small Boats, with his workshop and business on Winthrop Road on Shelter Island.

A devoted member of the community, he was first elected Shelter Island Town Assessor in 1969 and served for 20 years, having won five town elections during that period. He was a member of the Shelter Island Republican Committee, and an honorary trustee of the Shelter Island Historical Society, an organization he served for several decades. He was also a member of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

Boats, sailing and fishing were his passions and survivors said that he generously shared these pastimes with his family and legions of friends on and off the Island. He was a member of the Shelter Island Yacht Club since 1950 and involved in sailing and yacht racing all his life. For 70 years he raced Snipes, Stars, Blue Jays, Wood Pussys and Penguins on Shelter Island and with other Long Island clubs.

For the past 25 years, he helped build the fleet of Herreshoff Doughdishes and was a highly successful skipper up to his death. His boat-building skills were well known and owning a Brigham-built boat was a source of great pride for many.

Walter is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gladys Copin Brigham of Shelter Island; a son, Lawson Walter Brigham. and his wife Ellen. of Alaska; two daughters and their husbands, Marion and John Williams of South Carolina and Margaret and Pat Ryan of Connecticut; two grandsons, Sean Williams of South Carolina and Patrick Ryan and his wife Holly of North Carolina; and three nephews, Walter, Charles and William Brigham and their families. A brother, Harry L. Brigham, predeceased him.

A memorial will be held on February 20 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Shelter Island Historical Society, P.O. Box 847, Shelter Island, NY 11964; East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978; St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1660, Shelter Island, NY 11964; or American Red Cross Shelter Island Chapter, P.O. Box 830, Shelter Island, NY 11964; would be appreciated by the family.